TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore, long a towering figure in New Jersey GOP politics, is facing unprecedented dissent from within his own ranks as party leaders quietly prepare for a future without him.
Behind the scenes, both Gilmore and his opponent are silently working overtime to secure county commissioner seats ahead of a critical election in 2026 to decide the future of the Republican party in Ocean County.
Many Republicans are sick and tired of Gilmore and his financial connections to Democrats, Democrat lobbying firms and his recent open support for former Democrat New Jersey Governor James McGreevey’s failed run for mayor in Jersey City.
Gilmore hosted a fundraiser in Ocean County for the state’s first openly gay governor who resigned in shame after his reststop affair with a man was exposed after he gave his lover a state job.
The once-dominant county boss, pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2021 after a federal tax conviction had him staring down the barrell of a 364 day federal jail sentences is now under fire for breaking with Trump’s 2025 endorsement of former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in favor of conservative radio host Bill Spadea.
It turns out Gilmore endorsed Spadea because he was paid to do so, acting as a consultant for Spadea’s Common Sense Club, making thousands of dollars per month on the deal.
Most honest Republicans have had enough with Gilmore’s political greed and apparent financial desperation as he continues to owe millions in federal liens placed against him, which were not part of his pardon agreement.
The move has fractured the local Republican establishment and accelerated what insiders describe as a steep decline in Gilmore’s influence.
“Gilmore’s return to politics has been a trainwreck,” said one Ocean County Republican committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He’s not who he used to be, and most people know it.”
Once known for his formidable fundraising and control over the county party line, Gilmore now presides over a weakened organization that has suffered municipal defeats and internal strife. Several longtime allies have distanced themselves, and key local figures are already positioning themselves for a leadership contest when Gilmore’s term is up in 2026.
Some of the names being thrown around are some of Gilmore’s closest allies and enemies.
Some of those names include New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory McGuckin, who swooped in to take most of Gilmore’s municipal law contracts after the chairman was disbarred and lost his law license.
Former Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn, who was ousted by Gilmore’s political purge of the Ocean County Commissioner board is also a name that frequently pops up.
Others who have been mentioned in the rumor mill include State Senator Carmen Amato of Berkeley Township, a former mayor with a reputation for steady leadership and strong municipal relationships. Amato is viewed by many as a stabilizing force capable of uniting the party’s traditional and populist factions.
Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick has also emerged as a major contender. Known for his aggressive campaigning style and ability to raise funds, Rodrick has built a loyal base in one of the county’s largest Republican strongholds and has angered the Ocean County deep state with his actions to cut goverment waste and remove the ‘Good Old Boy’ network from township business.
His recent battles with local patronage networks have bolstered his standing among reform-minded conservatives.
Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, a former Point Pleasant Beach mayor, has gained attention as a rising GOP voice in Trenton. His opposition to Democratic-led spending and regulatory policies has increased his visibility statewide and could translate into cross-regional support within Ocean County. He is a rising star in New Jersey politics and has the moral compass to be a good chairman, a compass Gilmore lacks.
Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, who nearly unseated Gilmore in a previous chairmanship bid, remains a respected figure among many county Republicans. Sources close to the party say Mastronardy could mount a strong challenge if he chooses to reenter the race, especially with many of Gilmore’s former backers now looking for new leadership.
Jackson Councilman Mordechai Burnstein is viewed as a wildcard candidate who could attract support from multiple towns in a divided field. Meanwhile, Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi once seen as Gilmore’s front man in politics, has gained visibility and independence since his narrow loss to former chairman Frank Holman, could be quietly positioning himself as another viable contender.
While Gilmore retains control of the Ocean County GOP for now, the political currents beneath him are shifting fast. Once seen as an unshakable power broker, the chairman now faces a growing chorus of local Republicans ready to move on.
He has lost all respect from most of the other 20 GOP county chairman after he opposed Jack Ciattarelli in 2025.